THE COMMONWEALTH

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 300, 12 September 1908, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH

IMMIGRATION. NEEDED TO JUSTIFY EXCLUSION. ' STRIFE WITH STATES. (OX TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION —CGFXEIGIIT./ (Rec. September 11, 9.25 p.m.) London, September 11. "The Times" publishes a cablegram from Australia stating that tho last Conference of State Premiers decidcd' to hamper and resist the Federal Government's policy of encouragement of immigration. Commenting upon this cablegram, the " Westminster Gazette" says that tho success of the "White Australia pojicy depends on whether sufficient numbers of people can bo attracted to Australia to justify tho exclusion of coloured races. POWER OF THE PURSE. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHEP. London, September 10. "The Times," in an article dealing with the farewell to Lord Northcoto, the late GovernorGeneral of Australia, refers to tho tribute paid by Australia to him and to his successor (Earl Dudley). Reverting to the question of immigration, "Tho Times" urges that the States should forthwith make a virtue of impending necessity, and adds: " As, the main power of tho purse will shortly devolve upon tho Commonwealth, tho States might save much overlapping effort,' and expenditure." The paper considers it more than time a High Commissioner for Australia was appointed; As a romedy for the confusion of aim and effort in immigration matters between States and Commonwealth, it is understood that tho Federal Government desires to take charge of the bringing out of tho immigrants, lea-ring it to States to. provide the land. The last Conference of State Promiers differed sharply with the Federal Government, especially over the finances and tho Surplus Revenue Aot. "The Times,"- in a recent article, sympathises on general grounds with the policy of a White Australia, but declares:—"Tho Umpire can hold empty spaces for Australia only if sh« will do her utmost to utilise them. The Empire, as the price of its support of the White policy, may fairly require, and must require, a conscientious effort on Australia's part to set aside the jealousies between the Elites and the Commonwealth which now hamper the needed stream of immigrants, and which dangerously retard the peopling of the Australian Continent."